At Standen Law, our goal is to work with you to establish a plan that works for you and your family. Unfortunately, much of the law of wills and trusts is buried in legal jargon. Through "The Basics," we offer plain-language explanations of many of the key considerations estate planning clients should make. One of the significant decisions clients face in estate planning is whether to use a will or a revocable living trust (with a simple “pour-over” will). In this article, we explain the differences between these tools and the costs and benefits of each. We begin by explaining what each device is, then review the more important pros and cons of each, and finally offer some preliminary observations about how many clients choose whether a revocable living trust is a good choice.

One of the unfortunate realities of estate planning is that death and inheritance can unearth or create rifts despite parents’ and children’s best intentions, and regardless of the size of an estate.

One of the essential – but often overlooked – elements of a well-prepared estate plan is a durable financial power of attorney.